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Let's face facts; the internet is becoming a more dangerous place as time goes on. The rise in cyber-attacks is huge, more than doubling every year. Increased tracking online is commonplace in the news, and large data breaches pass the attention of most people. Browsing the internet may feel safe, but it's becoming one of the most prevalent places to get attacked worldwide.

For the average user not doing anything illegal online, the risk may seem quite low, but with modern hacking nobody is safe. Hardware is often breached and unknown to the general public, with the infamous CIA 'Day-Zero' attack methods becoming popular in recent years, there really is little that's trustworthy online. Even recently there is more and more evidence that companies are spying on their customers; the HP keyloggers for example. At this point it's unknown whether these keyloggers were put in by the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer. But the risk is the same; anything you type can be recorded.

Software breaches are by far the most common method of attack for the average home user; installing or clicking on something from an unknown source. Popup ads are common everywhere online, and often contain malicious software which infects a computer quickly and effectively. Using an adblocker like uBlock Origin is always recommended, but many sites are starting to get around this by denying content until the blocker is disabled. If a site asks you to unblock it, then it's likely worth just going somewhere else for the information.

Of software attacks, the most prevalent is through phishing, mainly from email attachments. This method is favoured by malicious users worldwide as they are easy to set up, and require little input once set. Only a few in a thousand will get clicked, but the 'wide net' approach is historically one of the best for targeting large groups. Phishing is the art of replicating a trusted page or email, with a malicious link attached instead of the normal one. By far the best way of avoiding these attacks is by educating users on what to look out for. Phishing is the gateway in which most attacks occur, and leads to the serious attacks like ransomware.

Ransomware is currently in the news often, as the rise in ransomware attacks is huge compared to previous years. In a nutshell, ransomware encrypts the drives of a computer until the user pays to have it unlocked, usually by anonymous Bitcoin transfers. These attacks mostly target businesses, and are one of the main cash-cows for hackers.

Tracking may not be classed as a danger, but in most respects it can be used as a danger. GPS tracking on phones, Wi-Fi network tracking on Android, Snapchat locations, Exif data on uploaded photos, IP tracing, even remote access to microphones or webcams can be done quickly if security is lax. These are major breaches of privacy, and can often lead to more dangerous aspects of cyber attacks. Snapchat location was famously the cause of alot of bullying across the globe, as people can simply look on a map to where a person is. This was changed quickly to 'allow only' but the method of tracking is still present in the system. On the less personal level, tracking is majorly used by companies for targeted advertising, and is seen by many as a breach of privacy.

It's highly unlikely that a targeted attack would occur to any specific user (i.e. being 'hacked') but it is still a possibility. Remember not to give out any data online, and never agree to anything you haven't read beforehand. And as always, its important to note that 'black hat' hackers are comparable to people who break into houses; if your house is well defended, they will move onto the next, less secure one.

Most people will have heard of the dark web in some shape or form, but its purpose has changed drastically over the years. Most people understand the dark web to be where all of the illegal things on the internet occur, such as buying drugs or hiring a hitman. Now, this still happens in some corners of the dark web, but it means so much more now that it's unfair to class it only as this.

To access the dark web a user needs a private network, the most popular of which being Tor. Tor routes all traffic through over 150 different IP addresses per second, and makes tracing any user almost impossible. You can use this browser to access all of the sites on the World Wide Web and remain anonymous, but also to access the dark web. Whereas 'normal' sites have .com or .co.uk, dark web sites are accessed through .onion links. You can't access these through Chrome or Firefox, but Tor can. Once in the browser there are billions of pages which are unique to the dark web, such as Silk Path.

some sites on the dark web have been closed down over the years through intense investigation from authorities such as the FBI, but a version always pops right back up. Silk Path is the successor to the hugely popular Silk Road, shut down only a few years ago. Most sites on the dark web stay up for decades, as it's simply too hard to find the source.

There is a special Wiki devoted to the dark web, as an archive of e-commerce sites available only through Tor or similar. This isn't accessible through normal browsers, but it is conveniently bookmarked in most modern versions of Tor; you cannot search for these sites through Google.

While the dark web did originally start as a hub for illegal activity online, it has been developed into a XXXXXprivate network of users who wish to remain untraced. It's estimated that less than 10% of pages on the dark web are used for illegal activities, while the other 90% is simply people wishing to remain private. With the amount of tracking that goes on on the normal internet, it's not surprising that people have found a way to keep their sense of privacy. Facebook has been shown to use its speech-to-text to listen to people talking and target advertising (Facebook denies this, but it's easily tested). Google tracks where and which Wi-Fi networks a device connects to, making a map of peoples' movements. Even HP has come under fire recently for having low level keyloggers built into their keyboards. There's very little privacy online, and using Tor as your main browser may be slower, but at least the user knows that they're not being snooped on.

The dark web mostly contains one of the largest caches of information in the world, copied from the Web and saved in a form which cannot be limited through ISPs or governments. There are even special search engines for searching the dark web, such as DuckDuckGo Tor. While these do not have the power or resources of Google, they are effective and private.

Some of the websites on the dark web are those which have been banned from the 'normal' internet due to public safety and legal concerns, but that is not always the true reason, though it is often given. Free speech is on the decline on the internet, with Net Neutrality on the rise and policing of message boards. The dark web may well be the future of the internet as we know it today, because it truly is the only place where a user can have complete freedom of speech while remaining anonymous.

This content is all about what to look for when you are buying brand new home computer or a laptop. There are a lot of people who have got no guidelines when it comes to what to look for when selecting personal computers, mobile laptops and computer equipment. We hope that the information below will be of some assistance to you.

The more information you have about the different parts of computers and laptops. The better you will be to make the most appropriate choices when you finally do go to purchase your equipment.

WHAT TO Choose WHEN BUYING A DESKTOP PC OR Laptop computer

If you're not sure about whether to spend money on a desktop computer system or a mobile computer, a desktop PC will be able to give you the most cost-effective computing power for the very same money.

Laptops are very handy as they are usually more convenient to carry around, however if you have the work table space at your home and you will not be doing work while you are moving about, then a desktop Personal computer of similar cost to a laptop computer, is what you need to choose.

If you happen to create music, play video games, create videos and do video editing, etc. you need a faster and more powerful machine.

When it is set up in the right way your computer desk and computer equipment should give you a very pleasant working environment. Desktop pc's are typically more comfortable when used for long hours especially when used with ergonomic keyboards and a big up-to-date monitor. A good quality monitor will not give you eyestrain.

The operating systems that come installed on a pc/laptop is usually either Microsoft Windows, or Apple OS, and it really is a matter of personal taste as to which type you ultimately choose.

The amount you spend will be based upon your personal requirements and preferences and what you're wanting to spend.

These days, just about every home has one or more PC and most people will use their laptops or computers every single day for work, for entertainment, and also for interactions with friends and relations.

We rely upon our PCs to having access to the web, to store private information, photos and video etc. and we'd be frustrated if we were unable to do any work.

Therefore when something fails on your equipment you require somebody reputable and trustworthy who can resolve the trouble quickly and efficiently, you need somebody who is not going to bewilder you with techie language and who will charge you a reasonable price.

A good computer repair professional will pinpoint the problem, find a fix the fault, and get you back up and runningin the least amount of time, whether it is a faulty soundcard, spyware that's got onto your computer, or if your computer fan has failed.

The Data Protection Act (DPA) was introduced by parliament in an effort to ensure that organisations understand what is expected from them when having access to personal and sensitive information about for example their employees.

The DPA is a very complex piece of legislation and as such professional help may be required to ensure that organisations are adhering to the Acts requirements.

In a recent communication from the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) they have stated that there are a number of basic issues that keep recurring that organisations need to implement, in order to help protect them from any potential financial penalties.

These areas for improvement include the following:-

Tell individuals what companies are doing with their data- whilst this may seem a basic working practice, many organisations do not tell people what they are doing with the information and who it will be shared with. This is a legal requirement so it is important that data controllers are open and honest about how their data will be used.

Make sure staff are trained to the required level All employees including new staff must receive data protection training to explain how they should store and handle personal information. It would also be prudent to instigate refresher training to ensure staff keep focusing on their duties and responsibilities.

Passwords need to be strong and robust There is no point in protecting data with a weak and easily guessed password. It would be advisable if passwords contained upper and lower case letters, a number and ideally a symbol. This will help in the protection of data from would-be thieves, giving the suitable backup for business.

Make sure all mobile devices are encrypted With advancement of technology many mobile devices such as laptops, mobile phones and tablets can be used for commercial use for such things as sending and receiving emails. It is imperative that any such device that holds any personal or sensitive information is encrypted. This will ensure that the data is kept safe in the event of the device being lost or stolen.
Only keep personal and sensitive information for as long as necessary Make sure your organisation has a policy for retention of data, and a process is set up to ensure that after the retention period the data is deleted safely and securely.

These improvements are not a comprehensive list of requirements to comply with the DPA but it would be a good working practice to ensure that these improvements are initiated within any organisation.

The number of cyber security threats is increasing all the time. More and more businesses have concerns about the privacy of their data and the higher risk of virtual attacks. Thus, its becoming more and more important to partner up with experienced cyber security professionals.

Many companies offer such services, though some have a much better reputation than others. To choose the right cyber security professionals, its imperative to do some research.

Training and Certification

Cyber security threats change all the time. This is why the most reputable companies within the respective niche are constantly investing in the professional training and further qualification of their employees.

Cyber security company employees should be trained to identify and deal with advanced security threats. They should have well-established and internalised procedures for handling identified data breaches. Fast responses and a carefully planned approach will be the key to minimising the impact and the losses stemming from a security issue.

A potential client has the right to demand information about trainings, certifications and protocols being followed. Reputable cyber security companies should have such information presented on their websites or it should be provided immediately upon request.

Industry-Specific Experience
The cyber security threats that financial institutions face arent the same as the ones that retail companies have to deal with.

Each cyber security company has specialisation and experience in a particular field. Its employees are aware of the specific threats and how these could be handled in an adequate manner. Thus, when it comes to increasing data safety within a respective field, its imperative to look for experts that have specialised knowledge.

A company should have a very clear idea about how a security protocol should be integrated within the operations of a client. If the experts are incapable of immediately responding in a personalised manner, it will be imperative to continue looking for an alternative service provider.

Adaptability
As already mentioned, cyber security threats evolve all the time. They become more complex, more difficult to handle and capable of producing a much larger scope of damage. Reputable cyber security companies have the skills, the certification and the ability to adapt quickly.

In addition, its important to keep in mind that the technologies companies work with change frequently due to innovations. Regulatory frameworks for operations within different industries also see changes once in a while. Cyber security professionals should understand the dynamic nature of doing business today and using technology for that purpose.

Data Access
Its very important to pick a cyber security company that completes all tasks in-house. If a business in the field outsources parts of the process, third parties may be getting access to sensitive data.

The security solutions available at the companys facilities are also important for keeping customer data safe. Security threats can be both online and off-line. Reputable cyber security companies should be capable of providing their customers sufficient protection on both fronts.

One's decision about the selection of the best cyber security company should never be rushed. A lot is at stake and research will be required, regardless of business size or the industry that it represents. Everybody is susceptible to cyber attacks, which is why the selection of an experienced partner in the security field.